PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A volunteer firefighter in Lower Merion has died in the line of duty.
According to Lower Merion Township, Sean DeMuynck responded to a house fire on the Fourth of July in Wynnewood on Rosedale Road, around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Announcing that Monday was an emotional task for Lower Merion Fire Chief Chas McGarvey.
"This is a very, very sad day for the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company, Lower Merion Fire Department and Lower Merion Township as a whole," McGarvey said.
Three firefighters entered the structure Sunday night, including DeMuynck.
"He was one of the crews that went in to extinguish the fire (and) went up to the third floor," McGarvey explained.
"The atmosphere changed quickly on us, a lot of heat, a lot of fire. We’re not sure yet what happened with firefighter DeMuynck. He was with two other fire fighters. They got out. Unfortunately, he didn’t."
He was taken to Lankenau Hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
"Our prayers and thoughts are with the DeMuynck family, most especially his wife," McGarvey said.
A cause of death has not yet been released. The cause of the fire is also under investigation. Neighbors say they saw an electric meter on fire just before the fire took off, one which left Rosedale Avenue still smelling of smoke the day after the fire.
"Their direct neighbor attempted to put the electric meter out with his fire extinguisher, and the fire continued," Neighbor Deborah Saldana said.
DeMuynck joined the volunteer firefighting company in August 2019 after moving to Philadelphia from Canada. Penn Wynne Chief Ted Schmid says he found the fire company and jumped right in.
"His dedication was second to none. He was here almost every day," said Schmid.
DeMuynck was an avid hockey player and helped with the family business in Toronto, but Schmid said he was planning to become a fire fighter when he returned.
The car was packed and ready to go when DeMuynck went out on one last fire call.
"Sean was your classic all-around good guy," Schmid said.
"We lost a good one."